Roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a roof connecting mechanism of a foldable tent wherein a connecting hub is pivotally connected to roof strut rods so that the roof strut rods are movable in a compact manner relative to the connecting hub. The connecting hub includes pivoting cabinets in radial arrangement for pivoting the ends of each roof strut rod which has sufficient space to accommodate the ends of the roof strut rods when the tent is both in an open and folded configuration. The connecting hub also includes a stopper to limit the movement of the roof strut rods when in the open configuration. Such construction allows for a simple and compact opening and folding of the tent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connecting mechanism, and more particularly to a roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent.

2. Description of Prior Art

The roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent is used for connecting the roof strut rods, in order to allow the tent be able to have foldable function, the connecting piece is connected with the roof strut rods in hinge connection. In the conventional bell tent, the roof connecting mechanism is just only provided to carry out connecting function, so that some part will be dismounted as folding. But in the bigger sized tents, the roof connecting mechanism is always kept in hinge connection with the roof strut rods, as folding, all the roof strut rods are bent down relative to the roof connecting mechanism pivoting around the hinge points closely and centrally, therefore when the roof of the tents is stroke up, the roof strut rods have to make advantage of the auxiliary support coming from the sub-braces to carry out striking-up function, in which some sub-braces have to be connected to the downward extended portion of the roof connecting mechanism, or to the poles of the tent, so that not only the structures of the tent framework become complicated, but also the connecting mechanism of the sub-braces become complicated because the volume is bigger, and the number of the pieces of the roof connecting mechanism is so big for carrying out striking-up function.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a simplified roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent with relatively smaller volume and low cost for carrying out striking-out and folding-up functions.

For achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent typically comprising a connecting hub connecting to one end of the each roof strut rod in hinge connection so that all the roof strut rods are bent upward relative to the connecting hub closely and centrally, in which said connecting hub has proper number of pivoting cabinets in radial arrangement for pivoting one end of each roof strut rod, and has a stopper for preventing the pivoted roof strut rods from bending down. The roof strut rods are hinged on the inside approaching the inner end of the pivoting cabinets respectively with one ends, meanwhile said each pivoting cabinet has a stopper built on the bottom portion of the inside for preventing the roof strut rod-from bending down relative to it.

The roof strut rods are hinged on the inside approaching the external end of the pivoting cabinets respectively with the pivoting point nearing the end, meanwhile said each pivoting cabinet has a stopper built on the top portion of the inside for preventing the roof strut rod from bending down relative to it.

Each roof strut rod has a pivoting hole built upon the end for hinging on the inside of the pivoting cabinet.

Each roof strut rod is fixed into a pivoting cap with one end, whereby the roof strut rod is hinged on the inside of the pivoting cabinet.

The pivoting cabinet has curved groove built on the inside wall, coordinating to it said pivoting cap has a curved lug built on the outside for fitting into the inside of the curved groove.

As utilizing above-mentioned project, in the present invention, by changing the folding directions of the roof strut rods relative to the connecting hub, such as the roof strut rods are bent up relative to the connecting hub to carry out the folding function of the tent, whereas spreading out the roof strut rods downward the connecting hub is stroke up by the roof strut rods until the tent is completely spread out and located by fixing all the feet of the poles of the tent in places so that the connecting hub is supported on the top place by the efforts coming from the roof strut rods, meanwhile cooperating to the position limitation coming from the stoppers of the connecting hub preventing the roof strut rods from bending down relative to the connecting hub, all the roof strut rods are located in striking-out state in balancing to simplify the structure of the connecting mechanism; on the other hand, as tending to fold the tent up, just need to release all the feet of the poles of the tent from the position state, by means of the dead weight of the connecting hub and the cooperation of the closing-up structure, all the roof strut rods are bent up closely inward, the roof of the tent can be folded up easily and conveniently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foldable tent of the present invention with the roof connecting means of the first embodiment in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the foldable tent of the present invention with the roof connection means of the first embodiment in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial top perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention in an open configuration;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention in a folded configuration;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent in the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which a connecting hub 1 is a circular piece having a number of pivoting cabinets 11 arranged in radial direction uniformly coordinating to the number of the roof strut rods 2, at least a curved groove 111 is built upon the inside wall of said pivoting cabinet 11, the bottom surface of said pivoting cabinet 11 is formed as a stopper 12 that at least extends to the below of the pivoting point of the roof strut rod 2 and the pivoting cabinet 11; a pivoting cap 3 is fixed on the tip end of each roof strut rod 2 in tight-fitting connection and the external diameter of the pivoting cap 3 should be smaller than or equal to the width of the inside of the pivoting cabinet 11, meanwhile coordinating to the curved groove 111 said pivoting cap 3 has a curved lug 31 built on the outside wall. The end of said pivoting cap 3 is hinged on the inner end of the pivoting cabinet 11 via a pivoting pin 4, so that each roof strut rod 2 can be bent up relative to the connecting hub 1, such as when said connecting hub 1 is combined with the roof strut rods 2, the pivoting cabinets 11 are in upward, of course all the roof strut rods 2 also can be drilled a pivoting hole on the ends respectively thereby directly to be pivoted on the inner end of the pivoting cabinets 11.

Alternatively, the roof strut rods 2 can be directly connected to the connecting hub 1 without a pivoting cap as shown in FIG. 8.

As spreading the tent out, pull the frame of the tent away so that the central connecting hub 1 is supported up by all the roof strut rods 2 until the tent is fully opened, in this time fix all the feet of the poles of the tent on the ground, by means of the efforts of the roof strut rods 2, make the pivoting caps 3 hidden into the inside of said pivoting cabinets 11 fully and respectively, meanwhile taking the advantage of the engagement of the curved lug 31 and the curved groove 111 makes the connecting hub 1 further position, cooperating to the stoppers 12 blocking the roof strut rods 2 continuously turning down relative to the connecting hub 1. Whereas, as tending to close the tent, just need to release all the feet of the poles of the tent from the positions state, by means of the dead weight of the connecting hub 1 and the cooperation of the closing-up structure, all the roof strut rods are bent up closely inward, the roof of the tent can be folded up easily and conveniently.

Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent in the second embodiment of the present invention is shown; in which a connecting hub 1 is a circular piece having a number of pivoting cabinets 11 arranged in radial direction uniformly coordinating to the number of the roof strut rods 2 as same as the above-mentioned the first embodiment, a pivoting cap 3 is fixed on the tip end of each roof strut rod 2 in tight-fitting connection, and the external diameter of the pivoting cap 3 should be smaller than or equal to the width of the inside of the pivoting cabinet 11, the pivoting cap 3 of each roof strut rod 2 is hinged on the external end of the pivoting cabinet 11 with the point nearing the end, on the other hand, a stopper 12 is built on the top side of the pivoting cabinet 11 at the inner end for preventing the roof strut rod 2 from turning down relative to the connecting hub 1, such as the stopper 12 can block the inner end of the roof strut rod 2 in the pivoting cabinet 11 turning up, so when said connecting hub 1 is combined with the roof strut rods 2, the pivoting cabinets 11 are in downward, of course all the roof strut rods 2 also can be drilled a pivoting hole on the position nearing the ends respectively thereby directly to be pivoted on the inner end of the pivoting cabinets 11; meanwhile said pivoting cabinet 11 has a up-down through way at the pivoting point so that the roof strut rods 2 can be bent up closely to the center normally without any blocking.

Alternatively, the roof strut rods 2 can be directly connected to the connecting hub 1 without a pivoting cap as shown in FIG. 8.

As same as the first embodiment, as spreading the tent out, pull the frame of the tent away so that the central connecting hub 1 is supported up by all the roof strut rods 2 until the tent is fully opened, in this time fix all the feet of the poles of the tent on the ground, by means of the efforts of the roof strut rods 2, make the pivoting caps 3 hidden into the inside of said pivoting cabinets 11 fully and respectively, cooperating to the stoppers 12 blocking the roof strut rods 2 continuously turning down relative to the connecting hub 1. Referring to FIG. 7, whereas as tending to close the tent, just need to release all the feet of the poles of the tent from the positions state, by means of the dead weight of the connecting hub 1 and the cooperation of the closing-up structure, all the roof strut rods are bent up closely inward, the roof of the tent can be folded up easily and conveniently.

In accordance with above description, in the present invention, by changing the folding directions of the roof strut rods 2 relative to the connecting hub 1, such as the roof strut rods 2 are bent up relative to the connecting hub 1, the connecting hub 1 just need to build up the pivoting cabinets 11 and the stoppers 12 preventing the roof strut rods 2 from continuously turning down on it, not only to establish a pivoting connection and a limitation with the roof strut rods 2, but also to carry out aiding supporting function as same as the conventional sub-braces of the prior art done, in this way, the volume of the connecting hub can be reduced greatly, and the structure is simplified too saving much material cost; meanwhile the open and close operation becomes more easy and convenient. 

1. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent, wherein a connecting hub connecting to one end of the each roof strut rod in hinge connection so that all the roof strut rods are bent upward relative to the connecting hub closely and centrally, in which said connecting hub has proper number of pivoting cabinets in radial arrangement for pivoting one end of each roof strut rod, and has a stopper for preventing the pivoted roof strut rods from bending down.
 2. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roof strut rods are hinged on the inside approaching the inner end of the pivoting cabinets respectively with one ends, meanwhile said each pivoting cabinet has a stopper built on the bottom portion of the inside for preventing the roof strut rod from bending down relative to it.
 3. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roof strut rods are hinged on the inside approaching the external end of the pivoting cabinets respectively with the pivoting point nearing the end, meanwhile said each pivoting cabinet has a stopper built on the top portion of the inside for preventing the roof strut rod from bending down relative to it.
 4. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said each roof strut rod is fixed into a pivoting cap with one end, whereby the roof strut rod is hinged on the inside of the pivoting cabinet.
 5. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pivoting cabinet has curved groove built on the inside wall, coordinating to it said pivoting cap has a curved lug built on the outside for fitting into the inside of the curved groove.
 6. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pivoting cabinet has curved groove built on the inside wall, coordinating to it said pivoting cap has a curved lug built on the outside for fitting into the inside of the curved groove.
 7. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roof strut rods are hinged on the inside approaching the external end of the pivoting cabinets respectively with the point nearing the ends, meanwhile said each pivoting cabinet has a stopper built on the top portion of the inside for preventing the roof strut rod from bending down relative to it.
 8. A roof connecting mechanism of foldable tent as claimed in claim 7, wherein said each roof strut rod is-fixed into a pivoting cap with one end, whereby the roof strut rod is hinged on the inside of the pivoting cabinet. 